Everything You Need To Know About Wine Tasting in Walla Walla, Washington (Part Two)

It has taken me 10 years to travel out to Wine Country Washington and I honestly cannot understand why. As you guys know, my friend and I drove the beautiful 4 hours out to the Southeast part of the state. We did everything imaginable when it comes to fermented grapes! 😅 So, here is Everything You Need To Know About Wine Tasting in Walla Walla, Washington (Part Two)! (Click here for part one)

This post is going to be a very leisurely with a mini packing guide, wineries and how to make your experience great. If you have anything to add to the list, add them in the comments below!

This will not be my last weekend in that part of Washington State. I loved our stay so much, I almost considered buying a vacation home…

Kinhaven Winery & Vineyard Wine Tasting, Walla Walla — Kinhaven Winery & Vineyard

Table of Contents

Everything You Need To Know About Wine Tasting in Walla Walla, Washington (Part Two)

If there is one pro-tip I can offer to you in Walla Walla, it’s to venture into the lesser known wineries. We were able to find one absolutely gorgeous boutique vineyard on our trip that we fell absolutely in love with. They were so kind and personal. We immediately felt at home and at the end, they invited us to their 4th of July lawn party!

If I can say one thing about Walla Walla, it’s that everyone was kind and open to giving their recommendations on where to go and what to do. SO, if all else fails, just ask a local!

What to Pack

You don’t need to pack a ton. I recommend 3 days of clothes, a bathing suit (if you plan to take a dip at the hotel) and wine bags for your purchases! What I do recommend packing more than anything, is snacks. I tend to bring a cooler and keep it in the trunk, when I go wine tasting. I love to pre-prep meats/cheese boards, pinwheels, etc.

I’m literally prepared to live on their property for the next few hours. Sometimes after tastings, I will buy, and open, a bottle and sit on the grass to enjoy. Life is too short not to take in those finer moments

Quick Packing Guide for a wine tasting weekend Walla Walla:

3 days of clothing
Picnic Blanket
Bags for your purchases
Snacks

Packed lunches
Water Bottle
Cooler
Ice or ice packs

Seven Hills Wine Tasting — Wine Tasting at Seven Hills

Where to go Wine Tasting

This is a loaded section, my friends! Haha! You really can’t go wrong with choosing any of Washington Wines’ wineries. I will say, I do have a select few favorites (sharing that in next week’s blog post) but I will say they are due to a mix of their wines and also their ambiance.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some of the tasting rooms in Walla Walla also have show rooms in Woodinville/Seattle. I tend to skip those because I live in Seattle and I can visit those anytime at home. These are wineries like: Mark Ryan, Kerloo Cellars, Browne Family, Dusted Valley, Rôtie… to name a few.

That said, I love exploring vineyards (and with the state of the world right now, being outside is the way to go!). So, if there is a Seattle/Woodinville tasting that I haven’t done and they are known for having a beautiful Walla Walla experience… Sign me up!

I would say “do your research” but you can’t go too wrong. I tend to avoid the more commercialized Washington vineyards, primarily because I love boutique wines and supporting the little guys. Another bonus to supporting the more boutique vineyards is that the majority of the tastings we had were properties of the winemaker themselves. We actually saw Bruno, the winemaker, of Va Piano while we were there!

Here are a suggestions for amazing wines and/or ambiance. 🍷

Amavi Cellars – 100% Sustainably estate grown
Barons – Known for Cabs and cabin-esque tasting room. (DT)
Corliss – One of the more indulgent vineyards. (DT)
Dunham Cellars – Artsy tasting room.
Foundry Vineyard – Beautiful art gallery and sculpture grounds.
House of Smith – Wine & live music, who wants more? (DT)
Kinhaven Winery & Vineyard – My favorite boutique vineyard & grounds.
Pepper Bridge – Darling tasting room & lovely Bordeaux red blends.
Seven Hills Winery – One of the oldest wineries in Walla Walla and a favorite tasting room. (DT)
Va Piano – Beautiful Italian style grounds and exceptional wine.

Wine Tasting Va Piano Walla Walla — Va Piano Winery Sauv Blanc Tasting

What to Expect While Wine Tasting

Some of the best hospitality you’ll ever get. Not only do hosts and hostess want you to enjoy the wine and tell you all about it but they definitely want you to stay a while. Right now with current restrictions, you might be limited to a time slot However, most outdoor properties really don’t have one because there is SO much space. It’s easy to stay 6 ft apart.

That said, it really depends on the type of wine drinker you are. I, personally, love to learn as much about wine from anyone that is willing to tell me about it.

Here are some questions to ask:

Does your winery have a specialty bottle/grape/blend?
Where do you grow your grapes?
What is your rosé made up from?
How long has your winery been producing?
Is there a favorite bottle your wine makers just loves?
Do you only sell your wine on property?

These questions will easily let your server know that you’d like to learn more. I love taking note while I go tasting. Often times I tell my server something like “Oh! I love really earthy and spicy Malbecs” and they’ll let you know what to expect from theirs. When you do that, they’ll often give you a heads up on another bottle that they house that might be more to your liking. I’ve ended up buy bottles off the menu because my server catered my tasting so well to my liking.

In short, you’re tasting will be whatever you’re prepared to make it.

Walla Walla Vineyards at Kinhaven — Kinhaven Vineyards

How much to Budget

My friends, I cannot express this enough: Go in with a budget and STICK to that budget.

Do not go rogue unless you are prepared for that. This is another reason why I say less is more (from part one). The more you taste, the more under the influence you will be and the more likely … you will go well above your budget.

My friend went in with a very strict budget and came out with some beautiful unique bottles that she is saving for special occasions. We were both on different budgets but communicated that before heading out. I walked away with a lot more wine but knowing that I would be set for wine for months.

Personally, I think budgeting is super private. It’s not my place to tell anyone how much to spend their hard earned money. However, I do recommend doing a bit of math before even leaving your house for this trip. It can all add up quickly.

I truly hope you guys enjoyed this mini series on Everything You Need To Know About Wine Tasting in Walla Walla, Washington (Part Two). This trip was an absolute blast and I’m already trying to figure out how to get back there for my next tasting experience.

Happy wine hunting!